Gorgeous Hair From the Kitchen Cupboard?
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Posted: January 4th, 2009 By Alma G no comments
Many of my clients and friends complain about how expensive it is to keep up their hair. They mistakenly think that high-priced products are the only way to deliver celeb-status locks. I tell them there are plenty of little things we can do to keep hair healthy, shiny and beautiful—without spending a dime!
Yes, you’ll still need shampoo and conditioner, but you’d be surprised how much you can do with products you already have in your kitchen cupboard. The following treatments are all tried and true—I’ve been using them on my own hair for years.
Strength training: This is a great mixture to strengthen hair and remove split ends. Mix 2 teaspoons mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Work through dry or damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
Pump up the volume: This treatment is ideal for curly hair. Combine 3 tablespoons deep conditioner and 3 tablespoons Epsom salt. Microwave for about 15 seconds and work into hair from scalp to ends. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse out with warm water.
In living color: This treatment will prolong highlights and keep hair bright and shiny. Blend 1 egg, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ of a peeled cucumber and ½ cup Epsom salt in a food processor. Spread the mixture evenly through hair and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Weather the storm: This treatment combats frizz, breakage and other damage caused by climate change. Combine 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon virgin olive oil and apply to dry or wet hair. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, or a little longer if your hair is in really bad shape. Wash hair with a moisturizing shampoo, then condition.
With all the money you’ll save on products and treatments, you can splurge on a great deep conditioner. I’m obsessed with It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Mask, which not only deep-conditions, but also protects from thermal damage.
Share: By Alma G
Many of my clients and friends complain about how expensive it is to keep up their hair. They mistakenly think that high-priced products are the only way to deliver celeb-status locks. I tell them there are plenty of little things we can do to keep hair healthy, shiny and beautiful—without spending a dime!
Yes, you’ll still need shampoo and conditioner, but you’d be surprised how much you can do with products you already have in your kitchen cupboard. The following treatments are all tried and true—I’ve been using them on my own hair for years.
Strength training: This is a great mixture to strengthen hair and remove split ends. Mix 2 teaspoons mayonnaise and 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Work through dry or damp hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner.
Pump up the volume: This treatment is ideal for curly hair. Combine 3 tablespoons deep conditioner and 3 tablespoons Epsom salt. Microwave for about 15 seconds and work into hair from scalp to ends. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse out with warm water.
In living color: This treatment will prolong highlights and keep hair bright and shiny. Blend 1 egg, 1 tablespoon olive oil, ¼ of a peeled cucumber and ½ cup Epsom salt in a food processor. Spread the mixture evenly through hair and leave on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Weather the storm: This treatment combats frizz, breakage and other damage caused by climate change. Combine 1 egg yolk and 1 teaspoon virgin olive oil and apply to dry or wet hair. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes, or a little longer if your hair is in really bad shape. Wash hair with a moisturizing shampoo, then condition.
With all the money you’ll save on products and treatments, you can splurge on a great deep conditioner. I’m obsessed with It’s a 10 Miracle Hair Mask, which not only deep-conditions, but also protects from thermal damage.
Medical Equipment, Oxygen, C-Pap, Scrubs, Scooters
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Scrubs Chic – Wear it with Flair
Disney Scrubs
Chic. Modern. Cutting edge. These words perfectly describe the latest in Disney scrubs, which have come of age…beautifully.
Here for the new year are form-flattering silhouettes and lively, bold prints that mix easily with one another as well as with solids.
Check out the Big Minnies, left: Our favorite icon looks her very best in an artful pattern playfully mismatched with dots and anchored by the new neutral— red.
Be bold and pair with red pants. (Why not? Flexible stretch-knit side panels make comfort the bottom line, and comfort and confidence go hand in hand.)
Or, on shy days, try bottoms in basic black or white. Disney’s Big Minnie top, Flower Power
Eco-consciousness meets fashion consciousness this winter in painterly floral prints (who said flowers are just for spring?) that make for a picture-perfect, put-together look.
Yes, you can mix them as long as their colors and scales are complementary.
Keep big, bold brights together; ditto soft watercolor pastels.
Of course, a top or bottom in one of the season’s hot solid colors can also pair beautifully with a botanical print, bringing a more modest touch of glamour to utilitarian workwear. We love the fashion-forward florals available from Cherokee, and the Studio B line.
Step Into Comfort
No wonder The Zone is one of the all-time best-selling shoes for nurses. It slips on easily, wears well and is oh-so-comfy.
“Nothing else sells. The Zone is walking the floors on its own!
Try on a pair for size—it’s like putting your feet to sleep in the best bed ever.
Available in black, white, chocolate with a tan outsole, ceil with a tan outsole and navy with a tan outsole. By Anywears, Cherokee
Chic. Modern. Cutting edge. These words perfectly describe the latest in Disney scrubs, which have come of age…beautifully.
Here for the new year are form-flattering silhouettes and lively, bold prints that mix easily with one another as well as with solids.
Check out the Big Minnies, left: Our favorite icon looks her very best in an artful pattern playfully mismatched with dots and anchored by the new neutral— red.
Be bold and pair with red pants. (Why not? Flexible stretch-knit side panels make comfort the bottom line, and comfort and confidence go hand in hand.)
Or, on shy days, try bottoms in basic black or white. Disney’s Big Minnie top, Flower Power
Eco-consciousness meets fashion consciousness this winter in painterly floral prints (who said flowers are just for spring?) that make for a picture-perfect, put-together look.
Yes, you can mix them as long as their colors and scales are complementary.
Keep big, bold brights together; ditto soft watercolor pastels.
Of course, a top or bottom in one of the season’s hot solid colors can also pair beautifully with a botanical print, bringing a more modest touch of glamour to utilitarian workwear. We love the fashion-forward florals available from Cherokee, and the Studio B line.
Step Into Comfort
No wonder The Zone is one of the all-time best-selling shoes for nurses. It slips on easily, wears well and is oh-so-comfy.
“Nothing else sells. The Zone is walking the floors on its own!
Try on a pair for size—it’s like putting your feet to sleep in the best bed ever.
Available in black, white, chocolate with a tan outsole, ceil with a tan outsole and navy with a tan outsole. By Anywears, Cherokee
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Scrubs Style For Every Body Shape
You spend a lot of time in scrubs, so it makes sense that you want your scrubs to flatter your body type and be fashionable.
We’ve picked seven of the most common body shapes (big chested, pear-shaped, full-figured, petite, tall, long-waisted, and athletic) and found scrubs that’ll look great on each.
Now find your shape…and see the scrubs that highlight your best features.
Big Chested Pear-Shaped Full-Figured Petite Tall Long-Waisted Athletic
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
We’ve picked seven of the most common body shapes (big chested, pear-shaped, full-figured, petite, tall, long-waisted, and athletic) and found scrubs that’ll look great on each.
Now find your shape…and see the scrubs that highlight your best features.
Big Chested Pear-Shaped Full-Figured Petite Tall Long-Waisted Athletic
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
A Nurse’s Survival Guide to Holiday Gift Shopping
A Nurse’s Survival Guide to Holiday Gift Shopping
1. Shop online.
2. If you must go out to the stores, do it on a Wednesday, at 2 p.m. Most likely the older folks are off to dinner and the parents are picking the kids up from school.
3. Delegate. As much as possible. Then if it doesn’t get done, you get to blame the four year old that to whom you delegated buying the Christmas tree.
4. Get a prescription for Ativan, and use it, just in case you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 pm.
5. Bring back the “Your present is in the mail” line. Then when it doesn’t get there, blame it on the post office person. Blame it on the economy. Or like Milli Vanilli, blame it on the rain.
6. Give everyone you know a Fruit cake. Tell them its really expensive, vintage fruit cake.
7. Carry a flask of something alcoholic in your bag or pocket. Use if you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 p.m.
8. Get everyone on your list gift cards from the supermarket. Shopping can be done in less than twenty minutes.
9. Take an Ativan and a swig of your flask, in case you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 p.m.
10. The best way to survive the holiday gift shopping is…schedule yourself to work. Depending on your family, 12 hours dealing with Code Browns and Hard Restraints may be the most relaxing thing you’ve done all year.
1. Shop online.
2. If you must go out to the stores, do it on a Wednesday, at 2 p.m. Most likely the older folks are off to dinner and the parents are picking the kids up from school.
3. Delegate. As much as possible. Then if it doesn’t get done, you get to blame the four year old that to whom you delegated buying the Christmas tree.
4. Get a prescription for Ativan, and use it, just in case you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 pm.
5. Bring back the “Your present is in the mail” line. Then when it doesn’t get there, blame it on the post office person. Blame it on the economy. Or like Milli Vanilli, blame it on the rain.
6. Give everyone you know a Fruit cake. Tell them its really expensive, vintage fruit cake.
7. Carry a flask of something alcoholic in your bag or pocket. Use if you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 p.m.
8. Get everyone on your list gift cards from the supermarket. Shopping can be done in less than twenty minutes.
9. Take an Ativan and a swig of your flask, in case you have to go shopping on any other day and time than Wednesday at 2 p.m.
10. The best way to survive the holiday gift shopping is…schedule yourself to work. Depending on your family, 12 hours dealing with Code Browns and Hard Restraints may be the most relaxing thing you’ve done all year.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Senior Exercises for Better Balance
Exercises for Better Balance
Research has shown many times that the strength of your leg muscles greatly influences the quality of your balance and hence your ability to prevent falls.
Generally, as people get older, they use their leg muscles less which allows those muscles to get smaller and weaker. This process is very slow and happens over many years. Most people will not notice it until one day they have trouble getting up from the couch or going up stairs.
In order to slow or prevent this loss of crucial muscle mass, it is important for people over 60 to do regular leg strengthening exercises. The muscles they focused on strengthening where the calves, located on the back of your lower leg just below the knee, and the dorsiflexors, located on the front of your lower leg just below the knee.
These two muscle groups work together to control your foot when you are standing or walking. the exercise protocol simply had participants strengthen these two muscle groups 3 times a week for five minutes during the 6-week study.
In the study, they used elastic bands for the exercises, but I am going to show you how to strengthen the same muscles without any equipment. You will do two exercises:
Exercise 1 - Toe Points
Sit on the edge of a chair with both feel flat and your knees bent at 90 degrees. Extend the knee of one leg so that one foot comes off the ground and moves forward slightly. Point your toe forward. This is your starting point.
From there, keeping your leg in place and only moving the ankle joint, pull your toes back towards your shins. Then point your toes forward again. Do 10-15 repetitions and then switch to the other leg.
As you pull the toes back, you should feel the muscles on the top of your shin just below your knee contracting.
Exercise 2 - Calf Raise
Stand facing your sink with both feet pointing straight ahead. Your feet should be about 6 inches apart from each other and 6 inches away from the sink. Hold on to the sink and countertop for balance and rise up onto your toes. Both heels should come off the ground a couple inches. Lower down slowly. Do 10-15 repetitions.
As you go up onto your toes, you should feel the muscles on the back of the lower leg contracting.
You can do 1 or 2 sets of each exercise 2 or 3 times per week, just not two days in a row.
These two exercises will help strengthen your lower legs and that should help your balance, but remember that these exercises are just one piece of the puzzle. If you want to do all you can to help your balance, you should be following an organized program of balance exercises and leg strengthening exercises............
Research has shown many times that the strength of your leg muscles greatly influences the quality of your balance and hence your ability to prevent falls.
Generally, as people get older, they use their leg muscles less which allows those muscles to get smaller and weaker. This process is very slow and happens over many years. Most people will not notice it until one day they have trouble getting up from the couch or going up stairs.
In order to slow or prevent this loss of crucial muscle mass, it is important for people over 60 to do regular leg strengthening exercises. The muscles they focused on strengthening where the calves, located on the back of your lower leg just below the knee, and the dorsiflexors, located on the front of your lower leg just below the knee.
These two muscle groups work together to control your foot when you are standing or walking. the exercise protocol simply had participants strengthen these two muscle groups 3 times a week for five minutes during the 6-week study.
In the study, they used elastic bands for the exercises, but I am going to show you how to strengthen the same muscles without any equipment. You will do two exercises:
Exercise 1 - Toe Points
Sit on the edge of a chair with both feel flat and your knees bent at 90 degrees. Extend the knee of one leg so that one foot comes off the ground and moves forward slightly. Point your toe forward. This is your starting point.
From there, keeping your leg in place and only moving the ankle joint, pull your toes back towards your shins. Then point your toes forward again. Do 10-15 repetitions and then switch to the other leg.
As you pull the toes back, you should feel the muscles on the top of your shin just below your knee contracting.
Exercise 2 - Calf Raise
Stand facing your sink with both feet pointing straight ahead. Your feet should be about 6 inches apart from each other and 6 inches away from the sink. Hold on to the sink and countertop for balance and rise up onto your toes. Both heels should come off the ground a couple inches. Lower down slowly. Do 10-15 repetitions.
As you go up onto your toes, you should feel the muscles on the back of the lower leg contracting.
You can do 1 or 2 sets of each exercise 2 or 3 times per week, just not two days in a row.
These two exercises will help strengthen your lower legs and that should help your balance, but remember that these exercises are just one piece of the puzzle. If you want to do all you can to help your balance, you should be following an organized program of balance exercises and leg strengthening exercises............
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Caregiver Stress
Senior Advice
Caring for senior citizens or disabled individuals can be difficult and often results in emotional and physical strain known as caregiver stress. This stress can cause one to feel frustrated or angry, guilty, lonely, and exhausted. And, although caregivers are generally in good health, research indicates that caregivers are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, have higher levels of stress-induced hormones, and have a higher incidence of obesity. Still, one research study has found a difference in health between caregivers who felt stressed and those who did not. Senior citizens who felt stressed as a result of taking care of a disabled spouse were more likely to die within four years of the study than their counterparts who did not feel stressed. For reasons like this, it is important that caregivers providing elder care or care for a disabled individual understand how to avoid and cope with caregiver stress.
Symptoms
If you are caregiver it is likely that have caregiver stress if you experience the following symptoms:Altered sleeping habitsWeight loss or gainConstantly feeling worried, overwhelmed, or sadBeing irritable and easily angeredFrequent and unexplainable headaches or other bodily pain
If you feel like physically or emotionally harming yourself or the person you are caring for, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will be able to refer you to a health care specialist that can help.
Preventing and Alleviating Stress
Caregiver stress is associated with many serious health problems and should never be dismissed as “just stress.” Rather it is important that those providing care for senior citizens or disabled individuals take steps to reduce their stress.
If you feel like physically or emotionally harming yourself or the person you are caring for, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will be able to refer you to a health care specialist that can help.
Preventing and Alleviating Stress
Caregiver stress is associated with many serious health problems and should never be dismissed as “just stress.” Rather it is important that those providing care for senior citizens or disabled individuals take steps to reduce their stress.Taking a problem-solving approach to caring for others helps to decrease stress. For example, if someone with Alzheimer’s continues to ask the same question again and again, answer the question but then redirect him or her. Say something like “Lets get this laundry started,” or include the person in a simple task like folding clothes.If you are caring for someone with a certain disease or disability, be sure you understand their condition. Use your doctor, the library, or the Internet to educate yourself. Also, your hospital or doctor’s office may give classes that teach you how to take care of someone with the condition your loved one has.
Tips for Reducing Stress
Research and use community resources that are available for both the person being cared for and the caregiver.Do not be afraid to ask for and accept help. Often, friends and family members are willing to provide assistance like taking the elderly or disabled person on a walk once a week or picking up groceries for you.Ask family members to contribute to the costs of taking care of the relative who needs help.Say “no” when necessary, it is important not to take on too much responsibility that can lead to additional stress.Identify what you are able to change and what you cannot. You cannot change another’s behavior, but you can change how you respond to it.Do not take on too much at once. Rather, break big tasks up into smaller steps and set realistic goals that you can stick to.If you begin to feel guilty, remind yourself that there is no such thing as a perfect caregiver and you are doing your best.Establish a daily routine and make prioritized “to do” lists.Stay connected with friends and family members, and make time each week to spend time with others in a capacity that is relaxing and enjoyable for you.Join a support group for caregivers; it can help remind you that you are not alone. Also, other caregivers can offer support and advice for how to cope with what you are going through.Finally, take care of yourself. Eat well-balanced meals, maintain a healthy weight, and get enough sleep. Talk with your doctor about any sickness or feelings of depression or anxiety that you may be experiencing.
Taking a Break
Sometimes, it may be necessary to take a break from caregiving to reduce stress. Respite care provides relief services for people who need rest after caring for others. There are various types including:
In-home Respite Care. This type of elder care generally involves in home health care services from companionship to nursing.Adult Day Care. This type of elder care is often held in community centers, and sometimes transportation to and from the center is provided.Short-term Nursing Homes. These types of nursing homes provide care for senior citizens over the short-term and are useful when a caregiver has to go out of town for few weeks.
If you are feeling overwhelmed working and taking care of a relative, it may be helpful to take a break from your work. Ask Human Resources about different options for taking leave. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allows one to take as much as 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a loved one.
Hiring an in home health aide will also ensure your loved one is cared for, if you cannot always be there or provide the care yourself. Home health aides can provide care for as little as a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. They provide assistance with personal care, like bathing or brushing teeth. They offer housekeeping services, like laundry and light cleaning. They also act as companions providing social interaction. Finally, they assist with administering medications and other treatments. You can hire a home health aide through an in home health care agency or independently, generally independent caregivers are less expensive. TheCaringSpace.com is an online resource that may be helpful, it connects independent caregivers with families in need of their services.
Caregiving Services in your Community
Asking your doctor or case manager about resources in your community is a good place to begin locating additional caregiving services. Some of these services may be free while others require payment. Local churches, synagogues, and community centers may give free services for senior citizens or disabled individuals. The government also provides many benefits at the federal, state, and local levels for senior citizen elder care and care for disabled individuals. To find out more about these, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging. You can also look into respite care or in home health care services available in your area by checking your phone book or using online resources like TheCaringSpace.com.
Paying for Home Health Care and Other Caregiving Services
Medicare, Medicaid, private “Medigap” policies or health insurance, or long-term care insurance may cover some of costs of in home health care. Other costs will have to be paid for out of pocket.
In home health care costs depend on the services you use. Non-medical workers like companions or housekeepers are much less expensive than medical workers like nurses. Also, the cost of using in home health care agencies vary, but is generally more expensive than using an independent caregiver.
In addition to Medicare and Medicaid, the federal government provides the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This program helps states to provide services for caregivers. Every state offers different types of services, many include respite care, support groups, individual counseling, caregiver training, and help accessing additional benefits. To be eligible, a caregiver must: Provide care for a senior citizen at least 60 years of age or olderProvide care for or any person with Alzheimer’s diseaseBe at least 55 years of age and provide the primary care for a child under the age of 18Be at least 55 years of age and provide the primary care for a disabled adult aged 18 to 59 years old
Caring for senior citizens or disabled individuals can be difficult and often results in emotional and physical strain known as caregiver stress. This stress can cause one to feel frustrated or angry, guilty, lonely, and exhausted. And, although caregivers are generally in good health, research indicates that caregivers are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, have higher levels of stress-induced hormones, and have a higher incidence of obesity. Still, one research study has found a difference in health between caregivers who felt stressed and those who did not. Senior citizens who felt stressed as a result of taking care of a disabled spouse were more likely to die within four years of the study than their counterparts who did not feel stressed. For reasons like this, it is important that caregivers providing elder care or care for a disabled individual understand how to avoid and cope with caregiver stress.
Symptoms
If you are caregiver it is likely that have caregiver stress if you experience the following symptoms:Altered sleeping habitsWeight loss or gainConstantly feeling worried, overwhelmed, or sadBeing irritable and easily angeredFrequent and unexplainable headaches or other bodily pain
If you feel like physically or emotionally harming yourself or the person you are caring for, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will be able to refer you to a health care specialist that can help.
Preventing and Alleviating Stress
Caregiver stress is associated with many serious health problems and should never be dismissed as “just stress.” Rather it is important that those providing care for senior citizens or disabled individuals take steps to reduce their stress.
If you feel like physically or emotionally harming yourself or the person you are caring for, talk to your doctor immediately. He or she will be able to refer you to a health care specialist that can help.
Preventing and Alleviating Stress
Caregiver stress is associated with many serious health problems and should never be dismissed as “just stress.” Rather it is important that those providing care for senior citizens or disabled individuals take steps to reduce their stress.Taking a problem-solving approach to caring for others helps to decrease stress. For example, if someone with Alzheimer’s continues to ask the same question again and again, answer the question but then redirect him or her. Say something like “Lets get this laundry started,” or include the person in a simple task like folding clothes.If you are caring for someone with a certain disease or disability, be sure you understand their condition. Use your doctor, the library, or the Internet to educate yourself. Also, your hospital or doctor’s office may give classes that teach you how to take care of someone with the condition your loved one has.
Tips for Reducing Stress
Research and use community resources that are available for both the person being cared for and the caregiver.Do not be afraid to ask for and accept help. Often, friends and family members are willing to provide assistance like taking the elderly or disabled person on a walk once a week or picking up groceries for you.Ask family members to contribute to the costs of taking care of the relative who needs help.Say “no” when necessary, it is important not to take on too much responsibility that can lead to additional stress.Identify what you are able to change and what you cannot. You cannot change another’s behavior, but you can change how you respond to it.Do not take on too much at once. Rather, break big tasks up into smaller steps and set realistic goals that you can stick to.If you begin to feel guilty, remind yourself that there is no such thing as a perfect caregiver and you are doing your best.Establish a daily routine and make prioritized “to do” lists.Stay connected with friends and family members, and make time each week to spend time with others in a capacity that is relaxing and enjoyable for you.Join a support group for caregivers; it can help remind you that you are not alone. Also, other caregivers can offer support and advice for how to cope with what you are going through.Finally, take care of yourself. Eat well-balanced meals, maintain a healthy weight, and get enough sleep. Talk with your doctor about any sickness or feelings of depression or anxiety that you may be experiencing.
Taking a Break
Sometimes, it may be necessary to take a break from caregiving to reduce stress. Respite care provides relief services for people who need rest after caring for others. There are various types including:
In-home Respite Care. This type of elder care generally involves in home health care services from companionship to nursing.Adult Day Care. This type of elder care is often held in community centers, and sometimes transportation to and from the center is provided.Short-term Nursing Homes. These types of nursing homes provide care for senior citizens over the short-term and are useful when a caregiver has to go out of town for few weeks.
If you are feeling overwhelmed working and taking care of a relative, it may be helpful to take a break from your work. Ask Human Resources about different options for taking leave. The federal Family and Medical Leave Act allows one to take as much as 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a loved one.
Hiring an in home health aide will also ensure your loved one is cared for, if you cannot always be there or provide the care yourself. Home health aides can provide care for as little as a few hours a week to 24 hours a day. They provide assistance with personal care, like bathing or brushing teeth. They offer housekeeping services, like laundry and light cleaning. They also act as companions providing social interaction. Finally, they assist with administering medications and other treatments. You can hire a home health aide through an in home health care agency or independently, generally independent caregivers are less expensive. TheCaringSpace.com is an online resource that may be helpful, it connects independent caregivers with families in need of their services.
Caregiving Services in your Community
Asking your doctor or case manager about resources in your community is a good place to begin locating additional caregiving services. Some of these services may be free while others require payment. Local churches, synagogues, and community centers may give free services for senior citizens or disabled individuals. The government also provides many benefits at the federal, state, and local levels for senior citizen elder care and care for disabled individuals. To find out more about these, you can contact your local Area Agency on Aging. You can also look into respite care or in home health care services available in your area by checking your phone book or using online resources like TheCaringSpace.com.
Paying for Home Health Care and Other Caregiving Services
Medicare, Medicaid, private “Medigap” policies or health insurance, or long-term care insurance may cover some of costs of in home health care. Other costs will have to be paid for out of pocket.
In home health care costs depend on the services you use. Non-medical workers like companions or housekeepers are much less expensive than medical workers like nurses. Also, the cost of using in home health care agencies vary, but is generally more expensive than using an independent caregiver.
In addition to Medicare and Medicaid, the federal government provides the National Family Caregiver Support Program. This program helps states to provide services for caregivers. Every state offers different types of services, many include respite care, support groups, individual counseling, caregiver training, and help accessing additional benefits. To be eligible, a caregiver must: Provide care for a senior citizen at least 60 years of age or olderProvide care for or any person with Alzheimer’s diseaseBe at least 55 years of age and provide the primary care for a child under the age of 18Be at least 55 years of age and provide the primary care for a disabled adult aged 18 to 59 years old
Senior Advice
Senior Advice
There are nearly 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dementia is a brain disorder that is generally associated with memory loss. AD is the most common type of dementia in senior citizens over the age of 65. AD affects various parts of the brain, including the regions that control memory, thought, and language. There is no cure for AD. And although researchers continue to make great strives in our understanding of the disease, they still do not know the cause. Alzheimer's Disease causes loss of memory and mental functioning. It is non-reversible and progresses over a period of years. At first, symptoms may be confused as age-related changes in memory. As time goes on, the symptoms become more severe. Alzheimer's disease can cause a person to become disoriented and lead to personality changes. Cognitive abilities decline; as a result, language and other everyday skills can suffer.
Approximately five percent of senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 74 have AD. After age 74 the likelihood of developing the disorder drastically increases; by age 85 nearly fifty percent of senior citizens have AD. Though it is age-related, it is not a normal part of aging and symptoms should not be dismissed.
Scientists have not identified the cause of Alzheimer's Disease, however they have found some important influences. AD seems to be associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Some evidence that suggests that conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol may also be related to AD.
Diagnosis and Treatment
It is important that senior citizens with memory loss seek medical assistance. Caregivers who notice memory problems in senior citizens more severe than occasional forgetfulness should schedule a doctor's appointment for the senior. Consulting a doctor can help determine the difference between normal declines in memory and more severe problems like AD.
Absolute diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease is impossible in living people; rather, doctors make "possible" diagnoses. This is because observing the presence of plaques and tangles in the brain (the physical indicators of AD) is the only way to diagnosis the disease with certainty, and this can only be done after a person dies.
Still, it is possible for doctors to diagnose AD with up to a 90 percent accuracy rate using general health questions, cognitive tests, medical tests, and brain scans. In some cases, these tests may uncover other causes for the Alzheimer's-like symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no way to stop the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. However, there are some medications that help control certain symptoms like agitation, anxiety, and depression.
There are nearly 5 million Americans with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dementia is a brain disorder that is generally associated with memory loss. AD is the most common type of dementia in senior citizens over the age of 65. AD affects various parts of the brain, including the regions that control memory, thought, and language. There is no cure for AD. And although researchers continue to make great strives in our understanding of the disease, they still do not know the cause. Alzheimer's Disease causes loss of memory and mental functioning. It is non-reversible and progresses over a period of years. At first, symptoms may be confused as age-related changes in memory. As time goes on, the symptoms become more severe. Alzheimer's disease can cause a person to become disoriented and lead to personality changes. Cognitive abilities decline; as a result, language and other everyday skills can suffer.
Approximately five percent of senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 74 have AD. After age 74 the likelihood of developing the disorder drastically increases; by age 85 nearly fifty percent of senior citizens have AD. Though it is age-related, it is not a normal part of aging and symptoms should not be dismissed.
Scientists have not identified the cause of Alzheimer's Disease, however they have found some important influences. AD seems to be associated with both genetic and environmental factors. Some evidence that suggests that conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol may also be related to AD.
Diagnosis and Treatment
It is important that senior citizens with memory loss seek medical assistance. Caregivers who notice memory problems in senior citizens more severe than occasional forgetfulness should schedule a doctor's appointment for the senior. Consulting a doctor can help determine the difference between normal declines in memory and more severe problems like AD.
Absolute diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease is impossible in living people; rather, doctors make "possible" diagnoses. This is because observing the presence of plaques and tangles in the brain (the physical indicators of AD) is the only way to diagnosis the disease with certainty, and this can only be done after a person dies.
Still, it is possible for doctors to diagnose AD with up to a 90 percent accuracy rate using general health questions, cognitive tests, medical tests, and brain scans. In some cases, these tests may uncover other causes for the Alzheimer's-like symptoms.
Unfortunately, there is no way to stop the progression of Alzheimer's Disease. However, there are some medications that help control certain symptoms like agitation, anxiety, and depression.
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